Bengaluru's Exponent Energy disrupts EV market with 15-minute charging innovation

Bengaluru-based Exponent Energy has emerged as a significant disruptor in India's electric vehicle sector by fundamentally reengineering battery economics and charging infrastructure.

Founded in 2020 by Arun Vinayak and Sanjay Byalal Jagannath, the startup has developed a comprehensive ecosystem that enables ultra-fast charging for commercial electric vehicles, positioning itself as a pioneer in addressing key challenges facing EV adoption in India.

Visionary leadership behind the innovation

Arun Vinayak, who serves as CEO, brings valuable experience from his time as a founding partner and Chief Product Officer at Ather Energy, where he led the development of the Ather 450X, one of India's best-selling electric scooters.

His early passion for automotive technology was evident when he built his first vehicle at just 16 years old, before eventually graduating with a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras.

Complementing Vinayak's technical expertise is Sanjay Byalal Jagannath, who serves as COO and oversees operational strategies, OEM partnerships, and charging infrastructure deployment.

Together, the founders identified energy-related challenges—long charging times, insufficient infrastructure, and short battery life—as key barriers to EV adoption, which led them to establish Exponent Energy.

Revolutionary 15-minute charging ecosystem

Exponent's breakthrough system combines three critical components to achieve its ultra-fast charging capabilities. At the heart of the innovation is their Battery Management System (BMS) 2.0, which features proprietary algorithms that reduce lithium plating by 87% through real-time cell monitoring, offering 10 times higher accuracy than conventional systems.

The system's predictive thermal control uses water-based cooling to maintain optimal 25-40°C cell temperature during high-speed charging.

The company's e^pump charging stations can deliver 1MW of power, enabling commercial EVs to charge in just 15 minutes. These stations have achieved remarkable efficiency, with 41 daily charging sessions per station in Bengaluru trials and 33% lower charging costs through smart load balancing.

Complementing these innovations is their optimized battery pack design, which uses standard LFP cells rather than custom chemistry. These packs are 30% smaller than competitors' offerings due to reduced range anxiety and come with a 3,000-cycle warranty—triple the industry standard.

Strategic market expansion and financial momentum

Exponent Energy is executing a phased strategic roadmap, having already established a strong presence in the three-wheeler market through a partnership with Altigreen Propulsion Labs. The company has deployed over 200 electric three-wheelers that have collectively covered more than 1 million kilometres.

"Our stack proves emerging markets can lead in EV tech - we're doing 10× more with standard cells while cutting ownership costs by 30%," says CEO Arun Vinayak.

The startup has raised Rs 380.72 crore in funding, with its Series B funding round led by Lightspeed. Its business model includes a 15% margin on battery leases and 20% on charging fees. By 2025, Exponent aims to deploy 1,000 charging stations and support 25,000 EVs across India.

The company's expansion plans include entering Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Chennai by Q2 2025 and eventually exploring ASEAN and African markets with tropicalized versions of its technology. Exponent is also testing 1.5MW chargers for electric buses and implementing a franchise model for charging infrastructure that promises a 40% reduction in operational expenditure.

Technical edge: Exponent Energy vs. BYD

Exponent Energy's approach to fast charging represents a fundamentally different philosophy compared to global competitors like BYD, with each targeting distinct market needs.

Exponent leverages standard LFP cells in its proprietary e^pack system, focusing innovation on smart BMS algorithms and thermal management rather than custom cell chemistry. Its systems operate at lower voltages (ranging from 48V for three-wheelers to approximately 400V for larger vehicles), prioritizing safety and compatibility with existing electrical infrastructure. This approach enables charging powers of 20-50kW for smaller vehicles and up to 1MW for larger systems like buses.

In contrast, BYD's Super e-Platform employs an advanced "Blade Battery" design with LFP chemistry specifically engineered for ultra-fast charging.

BYD has developed the industry's first mass-production 1000V architecture, allowing its vehicles to draw a full 1MW of power (twice that of Tesla's latest 500kW V4 Supercharger). The system supports peak currents of 1000A and incorporates custom SiC power chips to handle the extreme power delivery.

For thermal management, Exponent uses a water-based liquid cooling system that keeps cell temperature rise under 15°C during fast charging, with external chillers for larger packs. BYD minimizes heat generation through cell design innovations and includes active cooling in its charging infrastructure.

Perhaps most significantly, the charging interface approaches differ substantially. Exponent employs a proprietary e^plug connector and e^pump station optimized for low-cost, robust design for fleet use, though this creates a closed ecosystem. BYD utilizes standard DC fast-charge ports (likely GB/T type in China) with proprietary enhancements, potentially allowing future compatibility with other vehicles.

Exponent's model offers significant cost advantages for the Indian market—its charging stations cost approximately $18,000 compared to BYD's $52,000 equivalent—and focuses on commercial EVs in the Rs 5-20 lakh price range. The company has achieved 92% component localization by partnering with seven Indian battery pack assemblers, ensuring its technology is well-suited to local conditions, including 85% grid uptime through adaptive charging rates.

This comprehensive approach to addressing both technological and financial barriers positions Exponent Energy as a potential template for EV infrastructure in emerging markets worldwide, with innovative financing solutions that can save fleet operators up to Rs 45,000 monthly compared to diesel alternatives.